Kalanchoe plant named ‘Ficalanewbank’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Kalanchoe  plant named ‘Ficalanewbank’, characterized by its compact, upright and uniformly mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; moderately freely branching plant habit; glossy dark green-colored leaves; uniform, early and freely flowering habit; double white-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.

Cultivar denomination: ‘FICALANEWBANK’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Kalanchoe plant, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Ficalanewbank’.

The new Kalanchoe is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Odense, Denmark and De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching and freely-flowering Kalanchoe plants with double flowers and attractive leaf and flower coloration.

The new Kalanchoe plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Odense, Denmark in March, 2007 of a proprietary selection of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana identified as code number 0770-05 (06), not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana identified as code number 0981-03 (07), not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Kalanchoe plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in De Lier, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kalanchoe plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in De Lier, The Netherlands since 2008 has shown that the unique features of this new Kalanchoe plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Ficalanewbank’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Ficalanewbank’ as a new and distinct Kalanchoe plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and uniformly mounded plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Moderately freely branching plant habit.     -   4. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Uniform, early and freely flowering habit.     -   6. Double white-colored flowers.     -   7. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are more compact than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are more freely branching than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have larger flowers than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   4. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and the female parent selection         differ slightly in flower color.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are more compact than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are more freely branching than         plants of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have larger flowers than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   4. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have double flowers whereas         plants of the male parent selection have single flowers.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Monroe’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,714. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in De Lier, The Netherlands, plants of the new Kalanchoe differed from plants of ‘Monroe’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe were more compact than plants of         ‘Monroe’.     -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had more rounded leaves than         plants of ‘Monroe’.     -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had larger flowers than plants of         ‘Monroe’.     -   4. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and ‘Monroe’ differed slightly in         flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Kalanchoe plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Kalanchoe plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Ficalanewbank’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the winter in 10-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Kalanchoe production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 19° C. to 21° C., night temperatures ranged from 19° C. to 20° C. and light levels ranged from 10,000 lux to 60,000 lux. Plants received long day/short night conditions (more than 14 hours of light) for about three weeks then plants received photoinductive short day/long night conditions (minimum 14 hours darkness) until flowering. Plants were 17 weeks old when the photograph and the description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Ficalanewbank’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Kalanchoe             blossfeldiana identified as code number 0770-05 (06), not             patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Kalanchoe             blossfeldiana identified as code number 0981-03 (07), not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About eleven days at             temperatures about 21° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at             temperatures about 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures about 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 21° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; greyish white color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright and uniformly             mounded plant habit; freely flowering habit with numerous             cymes positioned above the foliar plane; inverted triangle             with rounded crown; appropriate for 10 to 15-cm containers;             moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height at flowering.—About 16 cm.         -   Plant diameter at flowering.—About 13 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Moderately freely branching habit with             usually about three to five lateral branches developing per             plant; pinching (removal of the terminal apex) is not             required but will enhance lateral branch development. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 8 cm to 10 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2 mm to 5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2 cm to 3 cm.         -   Aspect.—Erect.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Close to N138B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; generally symmetrical;             twisting; glossy.         -   Quantity per plant.—About six to ten mature leaves and about             ten to 14 generative leaves.         -   Length.—About 9 cm.         -   Width.—About 8.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Slightly vaulted.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;             coriaceous; succulent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully developed leaves, upper surface:             Close to 139A; venation, close to 139A. Developing and fully             developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation,             close to 147B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm to             8 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             coriaceous; succulent. Color, upper surface: Close to 148A             to 148B. Color, lower surface: Close to 139A to 139B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Double flowers arranged singly             in axillary cymes; uniform and freely flowering habit with             usually about 25 open flowers and about 25 flower buds per             lateral branch and more than 150 open flowers and flower             buds developing per plant; plants flower continuously for at             least seven weeks.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Kalanchoe             initiate and develop flowers under short day/long night             conditions or during November and December in The             Netherlands; flower initiation and development can also be             induced under artificial short day/long conditions (at least             14 hours of darkness).         -   Time to flower.—Under short day/long night photoinductive             conditions, plants begin flowering in about ten to twelve             weeks; actual time to flower is primarily dependent upon             temperature and light intensity.         -   Post-production longevity.—Excellent post-production             longevity; plants maintain good foliage and flower substance             for about 45 days under interior conditions; individual             flowers last about 22 days on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.5 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 1.1 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.             Shape: Initially oblong, becoming tubular ovoid with             development. Color: Close to 142B to 142D.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: About 24 to 28 in whorls; petals             imbricate. Length: About 5 mm to 8 mm. Width: About 5 mm to             7 mm. Aspect: Flat to partially upright. Shape: Ovate. Apex:             Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper             surface: Close to NN155C to NN155D. When opening, lower             surface: Close to NN155C and 145A. Fully opened, upper             surface: Close to NN155C; color becoming closer to N155D             with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to             NN155C and 145A.         -   Sepals.—Appearance: Four in a single whorl. Length: About             8 mm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Oblong, pointed. Apex:             Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Upright, rigid.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth; glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 138A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 mm to 6 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Aspect: Erect. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: Close to N138B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: About two to             eight per flower. Anther shape: Elliptic, flat. Anther             length: About 0.3 mm. Anther color: Close to 150D. Amount of             pollen: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 12A. Gynoecium:             Pistil number: About four. Pistil length: About 1 mm. Style             length: About 1 mm. Style color: Close to 138D. Stigma             shape: Flat. Stigma color: Close to 8D. Ovary color: Close             to 138D.         -   Seeds.—Length: About 0.1 mm. Diameter: About 0.05 mm. Color:             Close to 166C. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have been     observed to tolerate temperatures from about 16° C. to about 35° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not     been observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to     Kalanchoe plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Kalanchoe plant named ‘Ficalanewbank’ as illustrated and described. 